Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Gerry Lewis
• Manager Sprint Nextel Corp
• Co-founder of New Day Prison Ministry Church of
  the Resurrection
• Member of East Kansas Conference Committee on
  Church Society
• September 1, 2009
• glewis13_at_kc.rr.com

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Why Prison Ministry?

• "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all
  the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in
  heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered
  before him, and he will separate the people one
  from another as a shepherd separates the sheep
  from the goats. He will put the sheep on his
  right and the goats on his left.
• Then the King will say to those on his right,
  'Come, you who are blessed by my Father take
  your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you
  since the creation of the world. For I was hungry
  and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty
  and you gave me something to drink, I was a
  stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes
  and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked
  after me, I was in prison and you came to visit
  me.'
• "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when
  did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty
  and give you something to drink? When did we see
  you as stranger and invite you in, or needing
  clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick
  or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will
  reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did
  for one of the least of these brothers of mine,
  you did for me. Matthew 253140 NVI

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Why Prison Ministry? (cont)

• Retired Bishop Richard B. Wilke, author of And
  Are We Yet Alive and the Disciple Bible series
  said
• When did we as United Methodists decide that it
  was ok only to just do 5 out of 6 tasks mentioned
  by our Lord in this verse? We, as a Church,
  should be performing all of these tasks on a
  daily basis.
• If prisons were countries, we would be
  organizing missions to go there, daily.
• Bishop Scott Jones said
• When we serve people, the big DUH is that the
  served and the server are equally blessed.

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Why Prison Ministry? (cont)

• Remember those in prison as if you were their
  fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as
  if you yourselves were suffering. (Heb 133)
• You know, its ridiculous that prisoners have
  television sets and ball fields.  They get three
  squares a day, free education, and my tax dollars
  pay for it all.it must be nice.
• Well, if they didnt want to go to prison, they
  should have lived a different lifestyle.
• Sure they say theyve found Jesus, but do you
  think theyve really changed?
• How many times have you heard comments like these
  when the subject of prisoners comes up?  Many
  people do not care or give prisoners a thought
  beyond being glad that they are behind bars and
  not on the street.  Prison is a place to put
  people and forget them. 
• However, inmates are not different from anyone
  else.  We have all sinned, and no person is the
  sum total of the sins he or she has committed.
• But the scripture declares that the whole world
  is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised
  through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to
  those that believe. (Gal 322)

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PRISON  FERTILE GROUND FOR THE GOSPEL

• Where else can you find a place that is filled
  from top to bottom with people who know they have
  done wrong and, in most cases, readily admit it?
• Where else can you find so many people who are
  genuinely sorry for what theyve done?
• Where else can you find so many for whom the
  façade of self sufficiency has been stripped
  away?
• Where else can you find so many hurting, lonely
  people all collected together in one small space?
• Where else can you enter a community where so
  many of its members have been humbled?  Not
  humble, but have been humbled?
• Prison is often a hopeless, dark, restless,
  frightening place.  Jesus Christ is the only one
  that can bring hope to the hopeless, light that
  chases away the darkness, peace that surpasses
  all understanding, and can take away our fear of
  the physical world.  No wonder the gospel thrives
  there!

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What the Inmate Say

• I am a graduate of the Alpha Program at USP
  Leavenworth, and what a delightful and uplifting
  experience it was.  I thank God for Alpha and
  especially the people that conduct it.  The
  people that brought Alpha to Leavenworth were so
  caring and loving that they were definitely sent
  from God.  My prayer is that everyone in prison
  gets the chance to attend Alpha.  May God bless
  the Alpha Ministry. Bobby S
• Alpha has been a very helpful tool for me to
  learn about the principles of the teachings of
  Jesus and the Gospel.  I have been able to talk
  to other Christians in a more open setting from
  different backgrounds and environments, and also
  the volunteers from the streets, and gotten some
  different ideas and interpretations of what some
  things mean.  It has been a great learning
  experience and I am very excited to be taking the
  Leadership Course and Alpha Leader Training. 
  Now, I hope to be able to mature in my walk and
  help others to pray and do the same. Shane Y.
• My observation on Alpha is that it presents
  Christianity in a very appealing way.  The
  volunteers are second to none.  The relationships
  the inmates build with the volunteers help change
  the inmates into loving men of integrity.
  Chaplain Richard Hughes USP _at_ Leavenworth

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New Day Prison Ministry Story

• Started on April 4, 2005 with 3 people.
• Today
• 38 people serving
• Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Christmas Program
• Alpha Prison Ministry - USP Leavenworth
• Shared program with Christ Church Overland
  Park, KS
• Alpha Prison Ministry DOC Maximum Facility
  Lansing, KS
• Alpha Prison Ministry DOC Minimum Facility
  Lansing, KS
• Brothers in Blue DOC Maximum Minimum Security
  Facilities Lansing, KS
• In association with UMM of the East Kansas
  Conference
• Gracious Promise Feed the Need Program
  Johnson County Correctional Institute Gardner,
  Olathe
• Prison Fellowship Mentoring - UPS Leavenworth
• Prison Fellowship Mentoring DOC Lansing, KS
• Arts in Prison Program East Hill Singers Concert

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• The Alpha in Prison
• The Alpha course is a practical introduction to
  the Christian faith. It addresses the
  foundational questions of Christianity while
  providing participants with an opportunity to
  explore the meaning of life.
• Why Alpha in Prison
• To give every person in prison an opportunity to
  attend an Alpha course.
• To reduce the recidivism rate.
• To link prisoners who have completed Alpha with a
  nurturing church prior to their release.
• Contact Gerry Lewis 913.219.3733 or
  glewis13_at_kc.rr.com

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Brothers in Blue Prison Ministry
• Participate in a three day spiritual weekend at
  the Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, KS.
• It is a spiritual retreat centered around the
  meaning of Christianity comprised of fifteen
  talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's
  grace, obedience of Christian discipleship, and
  what it means to be a devoted Christian.
• The weekend is wrapped in prayer and meditation,
  special times of worship and daily celebration of
  Holy Communion. The Brothers-in-Blue volunteers
  support the weekend experience though prayer,
  leading group discussions, giving talks and
  demonstrating acts of love and self-giving with
  the inmate participants.
• The retreat begins on Friday at noon and
  concludes Sunday afternoon. Opportunities are
  available in the spring and fall of each year.
• No security or special training required.
• Contact Gerry Lewis 913.219.3733 or
  glewis13_at_kc.rr.com

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Arts in Prison
• Creative Writing In creative writing classes,
  inmates discuss and are given feedback about
  their own fiction, nonfiction, poetry and other
  forms of writing. A selection of inmate writings
  is published quarterly in our newsletter. The
  writings are also put on display at each concert.
• Drama Through storytelling and analyzing
  performance texts, participants learn to work
  together to create dramatic performance.
• Gardening Inmates in our gardening program work
  with landscaping and learn other horticultural
  skills.
• Guitar From jazz to rock to classical styles of
  music, participants in the guitar class expand
  their musical skills.
• Painting and Drawing From watercolors to
  portraiture, inmates of all skill levels come
  together to learn about and practice the
  technical and creative aspects of making art.
• Contact Nancy Meis 913-579-8122 or
  nancym_at_artsinprison.org

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Gracious Promise
• Case Management We work closely with clients to
  meet needs through our organization or by
  providing referral services to other
  organizations that can offerhope.
• Food Pantry Clothing Rooms Clients who come
  for an appointment are able to receive food and
  clothing that have been donated to our
  organization through the generosity of other
  groups and individuals.
• Youth Programs By partnering with other
  organizations, youth participate in
  after-schooland summer programs in our facility
  in areas such as tutoring, art and music
  instructional classes, etc.
• Adopt-A-Family Annual Christmas Program to
  provide a complete Christmas to families whohave
  a parent incarcerated.
• Counseling Services We offer individual and
  family counseling for clients in a variety of
  areas.

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Gracious Promise (cont.)
• Community Service opportunities for both youth
  and adults.
• Mentoring For clients that are interested and
  truly desiring change in their lives, Operation
  Andrew is a Christian mentorship program that
  matches people from the community with inmates
  and their families to provide additional support
  on an on-going basis.
• Employment Office Focusing on job placement with
  job training as needed for families of the
  incarcerated as well as returning family members
  following an incarceration experience,
  expansion of transportation assistance.
• In Prison/Jail Ministry Volunteers provide
  several programs on a weekly basis within the
  Federal Jail, State Prison and Local Jails.
• Dream Loud The Dream Loud Art Club is a year
  round program designed to equip children to reach
  their dreams in the future. A group of volunteers
  from the community train children in techniques
  and creative exercises.
• Contact Shirley Miller at 913-342-1707 or
  Shirley_at_graciouspromise.org

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Prison Fellowship
• Volunteers Needed
• AFTERCARE Mature Christian men and women to
  mentor ex-offenders transitioning back into
  society. Training available.
• ANGEL TREE CHURCHES NEEDED!!!!! Every year in
  Kansas approximately 5000 children are separated
  from their parent(s) due to incarceration of the
  parent. Won't you be the heart and arms of Christ
  to some of these kids this year?
• TEACHERS MENTORS Instructors and support roles
  for in-prison Seminars and Bible Studies.
  Periodic and ongoing needs. Training provided.
• Prayers
• CHURCH HOMES For churches and volunteers to
  warmly welcome ex-offenders and their families
  into their church family.
• AFTERCARE For God's guidance in the development
  of effective aftercare initiatives and
  partnerships throughout the state. Pray for
  effective housing, jobs, mentors, and churches
  for the men and women seeking to rebuild their
  lives.
• ANGEL TREE Pray for churches to rise to the
  challenge of year-round ministry! Pray for God to
  minister to the parents and children through the
  efforts of the local churches and this program.
• DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Pray for Chaplains and
  D.O.C. employees and officials all over the
  state. Pray for effective relationships with the
  D.O.C.

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Life Connection Program USP at Leavenworth
• The Life Connections Program (LCP) is a
  residential multi-faith-based program designed
  for inmates who believe the deepening of their
  spiritual life and the integration of their faith
  with other dimensions of their life can be a
  major factor for personal growth and can help
  them reintegrate into the community. The program
  strives to contribute to an inmate's personal
  transformation and to reduce recidivism. Some of
  the components of the program are specific to one
  religion, others are interfaith in nature. The
  program relies heavily on community resources and
  volunteers to run a variety of sessions and
  personal growth seminars. As part of the program,
  inmates are connected with spiritual mentors at
  the institution and within a faith community at
  their release destination
• Contact Ron Smith at alpha08_at_kc.rr.com

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Where Should We Start?

• Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program
• Gracious Promise - Food Pantry Clothing Rooms
• Gracious Promise Grandmas House
• Life Connection Program Mentoring USP _at_
  Leavenworth
• Arts in Prison Programs
• Prison Fellowship Aftercare and Bible Study
  programs

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Opportunity to Serve in Prison Ministry

• Questions and Answers